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Andrea J.
Andrea J. Sendmail

How do you view alcohol during training?

posted 4 months ago | Report

I'm not talking about getting hammered or the occasional too-much-fun night with friends. I'm talking more of on a daily or weekly basis. I have a glass or 2 each night while making/eating dinner.

I admit, I love my red wine. A. Lot. On that note, I hydrate extra all the time to avoid dehydration. I have a glass or 2 each night while making/eating dinner.

I'm training for my first half. I've wondered if I will need to give it up completely towards the end - like wondering if it will interfere with my training, etc.

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26 posts

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  • Ted
    Ted Sendmail

    I prefer to drink it rather than view it :).

    posted 4 months ago

  • Bryce H.
    Bryce H. Sendmail

    I don't drink a lot. I don't have a problem with it don't go over board. Some times my body craves a beer and usually about a half and I am good.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Morey B.
    Morey B. Sendmail

    I consider it part of my training.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Doug L.
    Doug L. Sendmail

    I think 9 out of 10 runners enjoy a beer after a run. The rest party their asses off! All joking aside, I think most runners do enjoy a drink or two AND the ability to enjoy it without feeling guilty about the calories.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Elesha R.
    Elesha R. Sendmail

    In moderation..Don't deprive yourself, but don't go overboard..just keep hydrating, like you are doing!

    posted 4 months ago

  • Renée S.
    Renée S. Sendmail

    I've never changed my drinking for during training. I'm not the best runner in the world either! however, I usually don't drink during the week at all with very few exceptions. I try to ALWAYS drink a beer (or 3) after a race :)

    posted 4 months ago

  • Shaindel B.
    Shaindel B. Sendmail

    Having a dark beer a day is just another sacrifice I make to produce enough breastmilk for my baby ;-)

    Actually, my last name is Beers. I'm an English professor/writer. (And we know all of the stereotypes about writers/professors and alcohol.) If I had to give up my one good beer a day habit for anything, my quality of life would be sadly diminished.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Laurie S.
    Laurie S. Sendmail

    I'll drink alcohol during training, but I'll cut it out during a taper. That's usually three weeks before a marathon, two weeks before a half or about a week before any shorter races. Since I'm running less during that time, I try to be very particular about where my calories come from. I also wouldn't want to take any chances of getting dehydrated before a race.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Kevan T.
    Kevan T. Sendmail

    Alcohol will dehydrate you but beer contains no fat and I am sure the same for wine. If you have drank too much and run afterwards your body will tell you if it was too much.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Bine
    Bine Sendmail

    I don't think that it will make much of a difference it you don't just get really drunk. I never stopped drinking while I was training.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Ron B.
    Ron B. Sendmail
    in reply to what Bine said:I don't think that it will make much of a difference it you don't just get really drunk. I never stopped drinking while I was training.

    I have been running since 1972. I don't let running interfere with my drinking, nor let my drinking interfere with running. I enjoy running and I enjoy my beers. I won't give up one for the other.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Andrew W.
    Andrew W. Sendmail

    I agree with a majority of the folks here. I drink a beer or two fairly regularly and still train very hard. Last week I had 3 before a 10 mile run and ran faster than I have ever run before (your results may vary), but I don't make that a habit. Like everything, moderation is the key.

    posted 4 months ago

  • John L.
    John L. Sendmail

    Experiment: Try every other night to eliminate the wine and see how your training goes. Try this over a three week period and don't exceed the one or two glasses the other days. Love to hear your feedback after week three

    jl

    posted 4 months ago

  • Devon M.
    Devon M. Sendmail

    Anything you put in your system is one more think to burn off. For my own part, I started buying Bud Select 55 Calorie. So I can have a beer or two after work and not feel like my next workout is solely dedicated to burning off those two.

    Fitness should be a way to enhance and make you feel better about your life. Not constantly feel like you're cheating on yourself. Cut yourself some slack, at least you're exercising!

    posted 4 months ago

  • Bruce J.
    Bruce J. Sendmail

    Two words for you. COLD TURKEY. Stop drinking and concentrate on your run. When you complete that 13.1 mile race that glass of red wine will taste that much better and will be your reward for all your hard work and sacrifice.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Robert W.
    Robert W. Sendmail

    I don't quit, but I cut down when training, I normally only drink on weekends, but I've found that a couple drinks will go straight to my brain when training hard, I get tipsy after 2 drinks, and drunk off my ass after 3!

    posted 4 months ago

  • John L.
    John L. Sendmail
    in reply to what Robert W. said:I don't quit, but I cut down when training, I normally only drink on weekends, but I've found that a couple drinks will go straight to my brain when training hard, I get tipsy after 2 drinks, and drunk off my ass after 3!

    I can relate on the tipsy and drunk part, nice to know I have company

    posted 4 months ago

  • Joe H.
    Joe H. Sendmail

    life is too short to not enjoy a good red wine

    posted 4 months ago

  • Mab13
    Mab13 Sendmail

    Just had a couple of glasses of red after a 7 miler....all I can say is Ahhhhhhhhh:)

    posted 4 months ago

  • Paul
    Paul Sendmail

    1 or 2 glasses of red wine with the evening meal will not interfere with your training.

    1 or 2 bottles may.

    Id be tempted to select it as an easy target for reducing your calorie intake a little during your taper period.. so probably restrict it a bit then...unless there are easier less enjoyable targets.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Andrea J.
    Andrea J. Sendmail

    I've enjoyed reading everyone's response. I've noticed that answers are all over the board (no pun intended) and I also noticed that the bulk of replies were male - interesting. I do have to say that I have tried to stay at 1 or 2 while preparing/eating dinner and call it a night. I'm also really concentrating on extra hydration each day.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Adam F.
    Adam F. Sendmail

    Go for it! Looks like most folks are in the feel free in moderation camp. I am too!

    posted 4 months ago

  • Piet H.
    Piet H. Sendmail

    I have 1 or 2 beers daily. My other hobby is homebrewing.

    So I want to shed a few pounds over the next 3 months for marathon training and I cut out drinking 3 or 4 days of the week, and just have a beer after hockey or on a date night.

    4 weeks later I don't notice any differences. My weight is holding steady and I feel like my health is at the same level.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Chris K.
    Chris K. Sendmail

    I use beer as an incentive to train. If I don't run, I don't get to drink beer. If I run extra hard, I get to have a few brews. Works for me. Good luck in your training. Chris Kelley - Framingham.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Tim M.
    Tim M. Sendmail

    I am with the majority of folks here. I enjoy a nice beer or glass of wine fairly regularly. As long as it done with moderation in mind, and you continue to eat well, stay hydrated any impact your training would negligable.

    Now if we were olympic athletes trying to compete at the highest level, then perhaps it's a different story :)

    posted 4 months ago

  • Michele H.
    Michele H. Sendmail

    Some of my fastest running friends enjoy beer, a lot! I have a drink now and then, but am not much of a drinker. I can go several months without even thinking of beer or wine, so it isn't a sacrifice to avoid alcohol when training. Basically, I think it's comes down to personal preference.

    posted 4 months ago

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